Ruben bloggar frå turar, innland og utland: First week at ZAA

Saturday 24/8-13

First I want to mention last week, before I tell you about my first week at Zambian Athletic Association (ZAA). Because last time I posted on my blog was just before the Special Orientation (SO). It contained more specific facts about the country we are going to live in (Zambia), also traditions and habits we should be aware of. Since I’m going to live in Lusaka, the biggest city in the country, it won’t be so “old fashioned” as the rural places others might be placed.

During these two days of SO we had the air condition on at full blast, making the room quite cold, while outside it was boiling hot. And I think this was the reason, combined with lack of sleep after Wednesday’s party gave me a cough.
Saturday I finally moved in to my new family. It was a bit sad to leave the other volunteers, but at the same time very thrilling to get an African family. I was driven to Kabwata, which is the area my family lives at. The driver had a bottle of Mosi (Zambian beer) between his legs while he was driving, taking sips of it every now and again. I thought about asking if it was his first bottle, but decided not to. I couldn’t see any empty ones, so I guessed it was his first. Who knows?
I met my host family, David (dad), Doreen (mom), Dinah (16), Dawn (12) and Daniel (9) (and the grandmother who was visiting for a few days) at their apartment. It’s a nice little place in an old building next to a petrol station. The place got water only a few hours a day, but at the same time got electricity all the time (was expecting a few days of power cuts). There are some holes in the walls but it’s nothing bad, we also store a lot of water so we can flush the toilet and wash our hands when the water is not running. Also, we have to boil the water before we drink it, so we store more water in the fridge. When it was around 6 o’clock my host parents wanted me to come with them to a wedding. We got a flat tire on the way, and were 2 hours late, but the time I spent with Doreen and her sister, waiting for David with a new tire, we bonded. It was a good way to get to know each other. The wedding was incredible! First it was a stand-up comedian who told jokes (in Bemba/Nyanja (local language)) and then the music stared (DJ) and the couple came in dancing! First the bridesmaids and best man’s before the groom and bride. It was SO cool! I wish I brought my camera. I was smiling the whole time and though: “this is how I want my wedding to be like!” When we had the dinner which was a buffet with a lot of different food, Doreen said: “just take what you are familiar with” and I though “Hell no. I’m gonna try everything!”.
I’m in Africa for 10 months, and it’s a perfect opportunity for me to “get under the skin” of Africans. To live like an African. That includes eating like one, behaving like one, even thinking like one.
Sunday I got up at 8AM, getting ready for church. The girls and Doreen wanted to rest, so they stayed at home, and I was asked if I wanted to rest as well. But I didn’t. I wanted to go to church. I knew it wouldn’t be like going to church at home. We waited for Davids brother to come by, but he never did, so we were an hour late. Since David is the pastor it wasn’t a problem. When we arrived he apologized and made the “ceremony” short. I was introduced and it all started with singing and clapping before David was praying like they do in movies (fast, loud and with passion). The hour went by really fast, and I won’t have anything against going back next time.
The afternoon we used to rest, watch EPL (Premier League) and play football with Daniel outside on broken glass and dust. In the evening we went to our “uncle” afterwards for tea. He has been working for Norad so he knew a lot about Norway. When we got back I went to bed early and slept for about 11 hours. I needed it.

Walking from home. I live one of the apartments in that block behind me

Sunny day

Sunny days, every day

The power went out for 15 minutes this week. Not bad to be Zambia.

Monday was my first day at work, at ZAA. I start between 9 and 10 AM. Exactly when I arrive work is not so important, but I was told not to come too early, ‘cause then it might not be anyone there. When I arrived I sat at the office waiting for the boss to come, so we could have our talk about my specific assignments (what I will be doing for the next 10 months). He was in Moscow for the World Championships, so he didn’t come this day; I spent the day talking with my colleagues and my coordinator. Tuesday he was there, and I got to meet him. I got a good impression of him, and apparently he got a good impression of me too. Good start, but we never had our talk, and he was very busy, so I used the day to read. And read. And read. Wednesday was the same. I read, and read.
Thursday we finally had a meeting and he told us he/they was very happy to have me here, and I will have a lot of work to do, both at the office and at OYDC (Olympic Youth Development Centre). After those 15-30 minutes I continued reading, for the rest of the day. Friday I was supposed to visit OYDC, but we postponed it to Monday. Things take time in Africa. Everything runs on “Africa time”. I just have to get used to it. I finished my book on 650 pages on Thursday by the way. It was a good book.

I spent a lot of the days reading...

Large quantities of water, antibac, books and yoghurt/nuts. That's my working days

Those blue cars are buses in Zambia. A "ticket" cost from 20 to 50 pence.

On the streets people sell newspaper and airtime all over the place (airtime is phone credit)

A better lunch at the office. Tchima and fish!

Im still practising how to handle the tchima

Me and my coordinator, Kesharcy

Friday I also went to the Norwegian Embassy where I got to vote (the Norwegian election is going on now) and ate waffles with other Norwegians. Cosy. The rest of the day I spend with the other volunteers in town, had lunch and dinner.

We were all superhappy to get WAFFLES at the embassy!

Even Markus was high on life at that moment!

Dinner with the Norwegians and Monique and Ivan (who are also volunteers in Lusaka)

Yummy!

A picture from inside the bus. They don't drive until it's packed!

Me and Anja sat in the back, but little did we know that we would have people behind us

So, to sum up, not a WHOLE lot happened this week, but I got a good image of how it’s going to be here. Things will take time, I need to be patient, and carry a book around where ever I go.

I also try to learn Nyanja, which is the local language they use in Lusaka, which is fun but at the same time not easy. I try to use it daily. Nizabwele!

It’s a lot of impressions that has to sink in, but it has gone well and I am very open-minded, which you have to be when you come to such a different place. Just getting served breakfast every morning, porridge and eggs is very unusual for me, living on my own since I was 16. But on a serious not; the first impressions are important to remember, and learning from others is the key. So just watch and learn to start with. I have been told by the previous volunteer at ZAA to be patient in the beginning and see what the others do, and then get into the organization.

I have so much to tell, but not everything will be entertaining or suitable on a blog. So I’ll leave it with that, and wish you a good weekend. Nilema (yawn)